Blue Lagoon – Golden Circle, Iceland

Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, Iceland, is the ultimate relaxing experience. Around this geothermal spa, green grass and small mountains enclose a cold river, a series of waterfalls create thin rainbows all over the sky. Fields decorated with lavender and yellow flowers here and there. Around, the distinctive smell of wet ground fills your lungs, and a diverse show of colors in the sky. The panoramic view at Blue Lagoon will definitely shock you to the core. A fairy-looking land surrounded by water and ready to be explored.

Iceland is a piece of geological art, a matchless volcanic terrain of dramatic skies and blue boiling water. You’ll find yourself among tremendous waterfalls and thermal lagoons. If you ever wondered how the earth was shaped when Mother Nature created something wonderful from the empty ground, by exploring the Golden Circle, a small region filled with distinct scenarios, questions and doubts will be responded.

Things to Do

Reykjavik

As soon as you arrive at Reykjavik, you will see an extensive and mossy lava field giving a darker tone to its bright surroundings. Upon seeing this, you will start to think that no one could live in Iceland beyond the city limits. Although this may be true somehow, there’s something appealing about Reykjavik and its strong natural beauty. Blao Lonia (Blue Lagoon) is a big, geothermal spa lake that provides swimmers a humid lukewarm experience.

The spectacular Blue Lagoon contrasts harshly with the black and green makeup of the remaining volcanic traces that surround it. Supported by the steaming natural pipes of a geothermal power establishment, it is as hypnotizing, mysterious and captivating as a Star Trek planet set.

The Lagoon’s pastel blue waters, decorated with a layer of mist, are assorted with cooling seawater, silica mud and blue-green algae. The water is changed every 24 hours and it’s just as clean as everyone pleases, at around 34-36°C.

Delicate and comfortable enough, it relaxes your body as soon as you sink into the water. Once it takes away any tension, a big range of different spa services is available. In essence, you can pick from massages to face masks. You will definitely wish all the public pools you’ve visited before were like this one.

Kleifarvatn: A disappering lake

A two-hour travel from Blue Lagoon through a rustic volcanic gravel path going south, gets you to the ‘disappearing lake’ of Kleifarvatn. Back in 2000, an earthquake hit the area and the lake lost around one-sixth of its water. Today, the water is still retreating, uncovering cliffs and eroded features.

Krysuvik

Heading further south, the smell of sulfur will definitely be felt by everyone. This is how visitors are particularly welcomed to the Krysuvik Seltún’s geothermal area.

The underground water can reach up to 200°C! Of course, the scent of sulfur can be too much at times. So hold your nose and hike through grey mud pools bubbling nonstop. Look around at the yellow fissures that resemble an Egyptian desert, as well as the green vents that blow deep from the bottom.

Meet the geysers

Once you get to the geothermal area in Haukadalur, you will meet the geysers Geysir and Strokkur. Strokkur, is the most active, close to small boiling pools and colored as blue as the sky. Every 20 minutes the water suddenly explodes and rises 25 meters up. Then, the huge cloud disappears into small drops of water and steam. Those standing close will take a few steps back to avoid getting wet but, just like little kids, they will get close again to admire the spectacle one more time.

Gullfoss waterfall

Eventually, you will be heading north, where Gullfoss powerful waterfall stands. This natural wonder is almost unbelievable, until you get close enough to see it with your own eyes. Forming from the torrents of the Hvíta River, it falls 32 meters down creating two tiers into a narrow canyon. Around, you can see mushrooms on the way up and on sunny days, you can admire the rainbows over the falls. Indeed, the first thing to pack for this occasion is a waterproof jacket. So don’t forget it in your baggage!

Thingvellir

A fascinating drive led by small Icelandic horses will take you to Thingvellir. This is by all means one of the country’s most lovely places, located on the shores of Iceland’s Thingvallavatn lake.

Thingvellir is at the edge of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, which quickly separate 2 cm from each other every year. The meeting point of the tectonic plates is called Silfra, and you can even snorkel and scuba dive in its clear waters.

How to get there

It’s fairly easy to fly to Iceland since the prices are affordable for tourists. Besides, you can reach Iceland from different places around Europe and the United States.